NEW RELEASE TO LOOK FOR: Molly Harper's AND ONE LAST THING...

Title: AND ONE LAST THING...
Author: Molly Harper
Release Date: July 27, 2010
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Gallery
ISBN-10: 1439168776
ISBN-13: 978-1439168776




Book Description

"If Singletree’s only florist didn’t deliver her posies half-drunk, I might still be married to that floor-licking, scum-sucking, receptionist-nailing hack-accountant, Mike Terwilliger."

Lacey Terwilliger’s shock and humiliation over her husband’s philandering prompt her to add some bonus material to Mike’s company newsletter: stunning Technicolor descriptions of the special brand of "administrative support" his receptionist gives him. The detailed mass e-mail to Mike’s family, friends, and clients blows up in her face, and before one can say "instant urban legend," Lacey has become the pariah of her small Kentucky town, a media punch line, and the defendant in Mike’s defamation lawsuit.

Her seemingly perfect life up in flames, Lacey retreats to her family’s lakeside cabin, only to encounter an aggravating neighbor named Monroe. A hunky crime novelist with a low tolerance for drama, Monroe is not thrilled about a newly divorced woman moving in next door. But with time, beer, and a screen door to the nose, a cautious friendship develops into something infinitely more satisfying.

Lacey has to make a decision about her long-term living arrangements, though. Should she take a job writing caustic divorce newsletters for paying clients, or move on with her own life, pursuing more literary aspirations? Can she find happiness with a man who tells her what he thinks and not what she wants to hear? And will she ever be able to resist saying one . . . last . . . thing?



My Thoughts

If this book is even close to as amazing as her Jane Jamison vampire books, this will be amazing. Her writing is both funny and fresh. The author posted the first chapter of this book on her website, so take a few minutes to check it out. This book has been places on my massively growing To-Be_Read pile. I can't wait to read it!


Links

Molly Harper

Purchase AND ONE LAST THING...

REVIEW: Susan Mallery's ALMOST PERFECT (Fool's Gold Bk2)

Title: ALMOST PERFECT (Fool’s Gold Bk 2)
Author: Susan Mallery
Release Date: June 29, 2010
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: HQN Books
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0373774907





My Ratings

Plot: 3/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 4/5
Originality of Plot: 3/5
Characters Development: 4/5
Ending: 4/5
Cover Art: 4/5

Overall: 27/35 = 77%



First Line

Liz Sutton had always known the past would come back and bite her in the butt - she just hadn’t known it was going to happen today.



Synopsis

Could a secret romance really lead to a perfect love?

Back in high school, Liz Sutton was the girl from the wrong side of the tracks. Then she'd stolen the heart of the most popular boy in town, and their secret romance helped her through the worst of times. Until Ethan Hendrix betrayed her and everything they'd ever meant to each other. Devastated and pregnant, Liz left Fool's Gold, California—forever, she thought….

Now Liz must return to town and face the man who doesn't know of their son's existence. And this time she won't have the option of making a quick getaway. Ethan and Liz can't deny their passionate attraction, even after all these years. But will their desire be enough to spark a second chance at love?



My Review

Liz Sutton grew on the wrong side of the tracks in Fool’s Gold. Her mother was the town drunk and the town slut. Her brother took off as a teenager and lever looked back. In high school, Liz‘s world was bombarded with lies, gossip, and rumors from her fellow students. Nearly a decade later, Liz’s a big time author, who is raising her 11 year old son in Denver.

She had promised that she would never go back to the place that gave her such heartache. That was until, the day she gets an e-mail from a girl claiming to be her niece. Their father had been sent to jail. They were left in the care of their step mother who had left them to fend for themselves. Liz saw no other choice to pack her life and her son, to take care of her two nieces left behind Fool’s Gold.

Ethan Hendrix saw Liz a crossed a large crowd, but he would know that hair, those freckle, and that face just about anywhere. He and Liz dated in secretly, because he was a member of the towns founding families, and Liz came from a bad family. One day Liz overhears Ethan telling his friends that he‘d never be with a girl like her. Liz leaves town heart broken, scared, and worst of all pregnant. When Liz came back to town to confront Ethan about the pregnancy, she finds him in bad with one of the schools mean girls. Liz tries to tell Ethan about their son 5 years later, only to find his new wife home and Ethan way on a trip. Liz explains that story to Ethan’s wife and goes back home. Later Liz receive a letter from Ethan saying he wants nothing to do with her or her son.

So Liz finds herself back in the town she hates, with a man she greatly despises. Once Ethan finds out that he has a son, he tries everything in his power to get to become more a part of his son’s life.

I found Liz’s story sad, but also very touching. She overcame massive obstacles, to become an great single mother and a famous author. She dropped everything, to take care of the nieces that she had never met. She stood up to the people in town who hated her for keeping Ethan’s son from him. She is the real stand out character in this story for me. Ethan on the other hand was a different story for me. Though he thought he was doing the right things, just kept screwing up where Liz and their son was concerned. It was has hard for me to think of him as leading male material. My feelings for Ethan were only lukewarm at best. In the end, I’m still not sure if he really deserve Liz.

I found this story to contrast with the first book the Fool’s Gold Series, Chasing Perfect. In this story, the female lead sees the small town as a very negative place. In Chasing Perfect, the female lead loves almost all aspects of small town life. It was much more deep and gritty for me, not perfect and sunny. I believe that Chasing Perfect had a stronger leading man, while Almost Perfect had a better heroine. This isn’t a bad thing, just an observation.

While reading this book, I kept getting this feeling of déjà vu. Girl from the wrong side for the tracks meets the towns golden boy. They have a secret fling. “Girl from the wrong side of the tracks” gets kicked to the curb, but finds out she is pregnant. Later “golden boy” finds out that “girl from the wrong side of the tracks” is hiding their love child. “Golden boy’ gets mad, and fights “girl from the wrong side of the tracks” for custody. Actually, I’m pretty sure that Mallery has already written this story with other characters involved, but I just can’t place the name of the book.

Overall, I found this story to be an enjoyable read, but not near as good as Chasing Perfect or most of Susan Mallery’s other books. I have an ARC of the 3rd book in this series, Finding Perfect. I’m hoping that the final book in this series, is more impressive this this one.


Fool's Gold Series

Related Websites

http://www.susanmallery.com
http://twitter.com/susanmallery

REVIEW: Susan Malley's CHASING PERFECT (Fool's Gold Bk 1)

Title: CHASING PERFECT (Fool’s Gold Bk 1)
Author: Susan Mallery
Release Date: April 27, 2010
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: HQN Books
ISBN-10: 0373774524
ISBN-13: 978-0373774524




My Ratings

Plot: 4/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 4/5
Originality of Plot: 4/5
Characters Development: 4/5
Ending: 4/5
Cover Art: 4/5

Overall: 29/35 = 82%


Synopsis

Perfection is in the eye of the beholder

Welcome to Fool's Gold, California, a charming community in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. There's lots to do and plenty of people to meet, especially women. Because there's just one tiny problem in Fool's Gold: the men don't seem to stick around. Maybe it's the lure of big-city life, or maybe it's plain old bad luck, but regardless of the reason, the problem has to be fixed, fast. And Charity Jones may just be the city planner to do it.

Charity's nomadic childhood has left her itching to settle down, and she immediately falls in love with all the storybook town has to offer - everything, that is, except cyclist Josh Golden. With her long list of romantic disasters, she's not about to take a chance on another bad boy, even if everyone else thinks he's perfect just the way he is. But maybe that's just what he needs - someone who knows the value of his flaws. Someone who knows that he's just chasing perfect.


My Review

Charity Jones had come to Fool’s Gold looking for three things: a new job, a fresh start, and a place to call home. I think that Charity may have ended up with more then she bargained for.

Day one of Charity’s new job: She has to close a deal to get a major collage put down roots in Fool‘s Gold. Her laptop with her power point presentation blows up. And to top it off, a cocky, attractive man walks in and takes control of her meeting and impress the clients. If she only knew that that cocky stranger was non-other then cycling ‘golden-boy’ (yes, I know bad pun) Josh Golden.

As much as she tried not to, Charity finds herself drawn to Josh. Even though the town thought of Josh as the town’s very own playboy, that was far from the truth. Since his divorce, Josh for the most part has been alone. That was until, he walked in on Charity meeting.

I really enjoyed this book. It’s a story of second chances for everyone involved. Whether it was Josh’s coming to grips with his guilt over losing a teammate, Charity’s search for somewhere to belong, or Mayor Marsha finally finding the family she’s always longed to have.

I was very fond of the setting of this story, I love the small town feel of Fool’s Gold. Yes, everyone knows their business, but also you have a lot of people supporting you when things go bad. Now matter the tragedy, the locals of Fool’s Gold rallied together. The book kind of made me wish I have grown-up in a small town, too.

I really enjoyed the 3rd person POV in this story. I do sometimes get annoyed while reading most romance books, I just never know why the guy is doing what they are doing. I think it just lends to a more open story.

I only have only one small complaint. I felt that the subplot about the missing town funds, was unnecessary. I didn’t feel that it moved the story or the characters along. It was like it was cut and pasted into the story. The story would have been just fine without it.

I spend a lot of my reading time wrapped up in series, where the characters are always in life and death struggles. For a change of pace, I really enjoyed reading a light-hearted, touching, sweet romance novel. When I do, Susan Mallery is always an amazing choice. Let’s say her books are my guilty pleasure. If you enjoy The Fool’s Gold Series, you might also enjoy her Buchanans’ Series.


Fool’s Gold Series

Websites

http://www.susanmallery.com
http://twitter.com/susanmallery

NEW RELEASE TO LOOK OUT FOR: Lauren Dane's INSATIABLE

Title: PHANTOM CORPS: INSATIABLE
Publisher: Berkley Heat
ISBN: 0425224643
Genre: Futuristic, Erotic Romance
Release Date: July 6, 2010








Book Description

Desire is the most dangerous sensation of all.

With tensions between the Federation and Imperial ‘Verses rising, one woman may hold the key to victory. The dangerous mission to smuggle her out of Imperial Territory falls to Daniel Haws and his team, the ultra secret Phantom Corps. This elite squad of the Federation Military is the only one trusted and skilled enough to remove her from under the watchful eye of her father, the Supreme Commander of the Imperial ‘Verses.

Carina is used to wearing a mask. Her father and his men think her little more than a pretty prize to be won by a man more ruthless than the rest. When he announces his intention to marry her to one of his henchmen, a man known for his cruelty, Carina knows she has to move as soon as possible to get out. But getting secret information to the Federation has served her well for years and she appeals to them for help.

She expected rescue from a man who’d been her enemy. But she wasn’t prepared for just how intense her attraction to Daniel Haws would be. Born as adversaries into different ranks, and on the run for their lives, they now need each other to survive–by holding on to the only thing they have in common: a growing desire that is dangerous, irresistible, and insatiable…


My Thoughts

This book looks and sounds amazing. You can never go wrong when it comes author Lauren Dane. Plus, the Cover Candy isn't bad to look at either! It is on my TBR pile for sure. Can't wait to review this one!


Links

Lauren's Website
Lauren's Blog
Read Excerpt Here

REVIEW: Alyson Noel's DARK FLAME (Immortals Bk4)

Title: DARK FLAME ( Immortals Bk 4)
Author: Alyson Noel
Release Date: June 2010
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Format: Hardcover, 336pp
ISBN-13: 9780312590970




My Ratings

Plot: 5/5
Setting: 4/5
Writing: 5/5
Originality of Plot: 4/5
Characters Development: 4/5
Ending: 5/5
Cover Art: 5/5

Overall: 32/35 = 91%


Series Info

Ever Bloom is an immortal teenage, and not the Twilight kind either. She was saved from a deadly car accident, by her love of many lifetimes, Damen. He had turned her into an immortal, like himself, so they can spend eternity together. But everyone and everything, keeps getting in their way.


First Line
(OK, I had to use the first two sentences, because the first wasn’t near enough.)

"What the fug?"
"Haven drops her cupcake, the one with the pink frosting, red sprinkles, and silver skirt.”



Synopsis

At the start of this mesmerizing new installment of the Immortals series, Ever is helping her friend Haven transition into life as an immortal. But with Haven drunk on her new powers and carelessly putting them all at risk, their friendship becomes more and more strained. At the same time, Ever delves deeper into magick in order to get control over her enemy Roman and free Damen from his power. But when the spell she casts on Roman backfires, she’s bound to her deadliest enemy.

Frantic to reverse the spell the moment the moon enters a new phase, she finds her efforts are fruitless—there’s a strange, foreign pulse coursing through her, one that propels her toward Roman. Desperate to break free of this terrible curse before Damen or the twins can discover what she’s done, she turns to Jude and delves deeper and deeper into dark magick, ultimately risking everything she knows and loves—including Damen. (Goodreads.com)



My Review

(Please beware this review contains spoilers)

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The fourth installment of Alyson Noel’s Immortal series, is the sexiest and darkest so far. Ever has to deal with the fact that she can’t be really physically romantic with soul-mate Damen, while she also being drawn to both Roman and Jude. There is nothing that I like more in a book then a love triangle, or make that square. I think Jude is a very nice addition to this series, he’s perfect…well just about perfect. I also loved the fact that he was Ever's spiritual ink to Riley. Damen also steps it up, in this book. I think my favorite part, is when Damen takes Ever to Summerland and gives her the interactive movie of their past lives together. It was extremely touching.

I guess my biggest problem with this book, and the series so far, is that Ever keeps making stupid mistakes. Not one, not two, but a thousand little small mistakes that turn her world upside down. I get that characters should be flawed. I also get that making mistakes can make for a great book. Ever has proven that she is a capable and smart immortal, but still she just keeps screwing everything up. It left me wanting to smack my head up against a wall during some parts of the book. I just don't know why Ever didn't let Damen help her, but I guess that would have made for a boaring story.

This book had the most emotional ending of the series so far. I was extremely moved by how Ever approached Roman in the final scenes. She found what was truly missing from his life, love. She used that information, to not only get what she needed, but to help Roman. My feelings for Roman came full circle. My heart broke when Jude tried to save Ever from him. Ever was moments away from getting the antidote to the antidote, so that she could finally be with Damen. Also, she had just had a breakthrough with Roman. There was so much hope, lost in a fit of anger. Jude did what he thought was right in the situation, I don't fault him for his actions. I'm just hoping that Ever can get past this, and find a way to let Jude back into her life in some way or another.

All this being said, DARK FLAME is my favorite in this series, so far. Though Ever has Damen and her Aunt, she has lost just about everyone in her life: her family, Jude, Roman, Haven, and Miles. She still can’t touch Damen without their energy barrier. Haven dead set on getting even with both Ever and Jude, for what happened to Roman. After Miles trip, he now knows that something is up with Damen. Jude is also a big question mark. Can Ever forgive him for what his has done, and what he ultimately cost her. I really can’t wait to see what Alyson Noel takes the next book in this series.



Other Books by This Author

IMMORTAL SERIES
1) Evermore - February 2009
2) Blue Moon - August 2009
3) Shadow Land - November 2009
4) Dark Flame - June 2010
5) Night Star - (Available for Pre-Order) November 2010


Websites

http://www.alysonnoel.com -Alyson's Website
http://www.immortalsseries.com -Series Website
http://alysonnoel.blogspot.com/2009/03/mirror-mirror.html -Alyson's Blog

Authors In Motion - Author Tour

This coming weekend authors : Rachel Vincent (The Shifters & Soul Screamrs), Carla Neggers (The Mist), Susan Mallery (Chasing Perfect), Gena Showalter (The Darkest Whisper), and Emilie Richard (Happiness Key) will be doing a bus tour from Indiana through Wisconsin. During this three day tour that authors will be stopping at Meijers, K-Mart, and Wal-Mart Stores to sign autographs for fans.

'

2010 AUTHORS IN MOTION

June 25, 2010

10am-12pm

Meijer - Highland, IN
10138 Indianapolis Blvd,
Highland, IN 46322

2pm-4pm

Kmart - Tinley Park, IL
16300 Harlem
Tinley Park, IL 60477

6pm-8pm

Walmart - Joliet, IL
2424 W. Jefferson
St. Joliet, IL, 60436

June 26, 2010

10am-12pm

Kmart - Naperville, IL

1199 E. Ogden Ave
Naperville, IL 60563

2pm-4pm

Kmart - Bloomingdale, IL
156 South Gary Ave
Bloomingdale, IL 60108

6pm-8pm

Walmart - Gurnee, IL
6590 Grand Ave
Gurnee, IL 60031

June 27, 2010

10am-12pm

Kmart - Racine, WI
2211 South Green Bay
Racine, WI 53406

2pm-4pm

Kmart - Brookfield, WI
18200 W. Bluemound Rd
Brookfield, WI 53045

Richelle Mead's Succubus Series - Review Via Playlist

After my latest re-read of Richelle Mead's Succubus Series, I thought I'd review these books one-by-one. Instead of writing a just another boaring review, I thought I might build a playlist for the series. The songs progress from book one Succubus Blues, through the current book Succubus Shadows. If you haven't read these book, please don't listen, as it contains SPOILERS for this series.

www.playlist.com/playlist/19212259083

If you haven't read Ms. Mead's Succubus Series, I really recommenced this series if you enjoy Urban Fantasy or Paranormal Romance. This author is also known for her Vampire Academy and Dark Swan Series.


A Little About the Series:

Georgina Kincaid Series

As if love wasn't hard enough! Imagine not being able to touch your boyfriend without sucking away his soul. Welcome to the world of Georgina Kincaid, a reluctant succubus living in Seattle who always seems to find herself in the middle of supernatural intrigue...


Current Books in this Series:

#1 Succubus Blues
#2 Succubus On Top
#3 Succubus Dreams
#4 Succubus Head
#5 Succubus Shadows


Richelle Mead Related Websites

www.richellemead.com/ -Richelle's Website
www.kensingtonbooks.com/ -Richelle's Publisher for the Succubus Books
richellemeadfans.proboards.com/ -Richelle Mean Fan Run Book Forum